Crash of a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle near Guasca

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1993 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-5038
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá - Apiay
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Bogotá Airport at 1124LT on a flight to Apiay AFB (Villavicencio), carrying four high ranking officers of the Colombian Army Forces and three crew members. About 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew declared an emergency after one of the engine failed in flight. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near Guasca, about 35 km northeast of Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were injured.
Crew:
Cpt José Ortiz, pilot,
Jairo Guevara, copilot,
Henry Chaparro, engineer.
Passengers:
Gen Norberto Adrada Córdoba,
Gen Jorge Enrique Mora Rangel,
Maj Horacio Lema Galeano,
Lt Col Gustavo Plazas.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Mitú: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1993
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1112
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taraira - Mitú
MSN:
821
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
3200
Circumstances:
While descending to Mitú-Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to bad weather. On final, the single engine aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed short of runway. All three occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Yopal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1993 at 1330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2759
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá - Yopal
MSN:
771
YOM:
1981
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport to Yopal. On final approach in good weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain (900 metres high) located 5 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the mountain was shrouded in light mist and the crew was approaching Yopal Airport below the minimum prescribed altitude for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 727-46 on Mt Páramo Frontino: 132 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1993 at 1506 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2422X
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Panama City – Medellín – Bogotá
MSN:
18876
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
MM501
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
125
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
132
Circumstances:
On the leg from Panama City to Medellín, the crew was approaching the Abejorral NDB at an altitude of 16,000 feet and was cleared to descend to FL120. Few minutes later, while descending to the altitude of 12,300 feet in poor weather conditions, the three engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Páramo Frontino located about 85 km northwest of Medellín-José María Córdova Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 132 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to clouds, mist and rain.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew mistakenly initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum prescribed altitude. It was established that the crew reported to be over the Abejorral NDB while in fact, the aircraft did not reach already this beacon. Thunderstorm activity probably influenced some instruments and the RNG VOR was out of service since few month following a terrorist attack.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Florencia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1993
Registration:
CP-1622
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
13336
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Florencia-Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed near the runway end, killing both pilots.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after rotation for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Convair CV-440-11 Metropolitan in Bogotá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1993
Operator:
Registration:
HP-1200CTH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bogotá – Panama City
MSN:
413
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, while climbing, the crew declared an emergency and informed ATC about an engine failure. The crew was cleared to return when the aircraft lost height and crashed in a field located 3 km west of the airport. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Barranquilla

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1992 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N701DR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port-au-Prince – Barranquilla
MSN:
31-235
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-55 in Medellín

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3753X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – Medellín
MSN:
45765
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, the crew lost directional control and the airplane deviated to the left. Suspecting an asymmetrical thrust, the captain decided to deactivate the reverse thrust systems when the aircraft veered off runway, collided with runway lights, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of directional control upon landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Villavicencio: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
HK-3468
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Villavicencio - Mitú
MSN:
22436
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Villavicencio-La Vanguardia Airport, while climbing, the pilot declared an emergency after one of the engine failed. He was cleared to return to the airport and completed a circuit. On final, the airplane stalled and crashed few hundred metres short of runway. Eight passengers were seriously injured and 11 other occupants, among them both pilots, were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-15 in Tumaco

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2864X
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cali – Tumaco – Pasto
MSN:
45721
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
RS201
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
88
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Tumaco-La Florida Airport, at a height of about 100 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and struck the runway surface. The crew was able to complete the braking procedure, vacated the runway and stopped the aircraft on the apron. All 92 occupants evacuated when the right wing partially failed. Few passengers were injured and the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that on short final, during the last segment, the copilot inadvertently extended the spoilers, causing the aircraft to enter a rapid descent until it impacted the runway surface with a positive acceleration that exceeded its certification. Presence of corrosion in the wing's root was reported as a contributing factor. Lack of crew coordination and poor planned approach also contributed to the mishap.